913 DR in politics

A human war-leader named Rauthauvyr, "the Raven", forms a standing army to police the roads between settlements that would later become Sembia. Rauthauvyr pressures the elves into allowing a road to be built through their forests, joining the north-west shore of the Inner Sea with the Moonsea. These actions guarantee the growth and prosperity of these settlements. Finally, Rauthauvyr founds the nation of Sembia under his Raven Banner. However, he declines to govern it, instead instituting and serving "overmasters" elected by a merchant council.[1]